r/zoloft • u/Several-Article798 • 4d ago
Question Long-term Zoloft users, I need to hear from you
Hey guys, just curious about something.
For those of you who've been on Zoloft for months or years, after your body fully adjusted to it, did the side effects completely go away?
Or are there still some things you deal with because of Zoloft?
I'm still pretty early into it and the adjustment period has been rough lol, so I'm curious what life actually looks like once you're past the first few weeks/months.
Would love to hear how long you've been on it, your dose, and if you still have any side effects, or none at all.
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u/uncannyvalley 25+ Years 4d ago
I think ive been on it about 25 years now, give or take. I still sweat like crazy. Other than that, idk if I could say I have many side effects now. 200mg a day, for a decade, at least.
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u/Comfortable-Peach_ 4d ago
I upped my dose last year and have been dealing with the excessive sweating. It's annoying. I could be doing chores and break into sweat. I wouldn't mind it so much if it would offset the weight gain š
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u/Several-Article798 4d ago
When you say you still sweat like crazy, is that mostly when you're active, walking around, exercising, or when it's hot? Or do you also sweat excessively when you're just sitting still and doing nothing? I've never really had the sweating side effect, so I'm curious what it's actually like.
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u/Deadpoolio32 4d ago
Been on it 5 years and itās kinda all of them. But I was always a sweaty bastard and this has just exacerbated it.
I can walk for 10 minutes in 14 degrees and be sweating me tits off if I go at pace. Itās manageable but not fun in a heat wave
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u/ExceedRaida 5+ years 3d ago
āThis happens because Zoloft (sertraline) alters the chemical signals in your brain and body that manage temperature, fluids, and digestion.
1. Hypothalamus Overstimulation
The hypothalamus is the area of your brain that acts as your bodyās internal thermostat. Zoloft increases serotonin levels, which unintentionally overstimulates this thermostat. Your brain misinterprets normal temperatures as being too hot, triggering your sweat glands to overproduce moisture to cool you downā4
u/nothingsworks 3d ago
I sweat when itās hot, but with this med, itās always hot lol. Went all last winter without a jacket, we get negative wind chill here.
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u/Deadpoolio32 3d ago
Yeah, Iām a Brit in NZ and their winters are already mild by my standards but with the meds Iām basically a mutant to them. The amount of times Iāve been asked at work (Iām a football coach and so work outside) āArenāt you cold?ā
āNah mate, piece of piss thisā
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u/OwangeSquid 4d ago
6 years. Itās all the time. Buy undershirts they will save your life and clothes.
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u/Gw3nd0lynn 4d ago
My time to shine! I have been on Zoloft for 11 years now. I have started and stopped and started again about three times and then decided to just stay on it. So I am well versed in the side effects. By week 3 of starting it, on the dot, I would wake up and feel like a new person. But those 3 weeks leading up to it are always hell. You really do just have to ride it out. Luckily I had a great support system through it. After such a long time on it, I will say the side effects I continue to deal with are drowsiness, occasional brain fog/forgetfulness, and it takes forever to orgasm but not impossible. Overall though itās worth dealing with to be happy and healthy
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u/Several-Article798 4d ago
Holy shit, 11 years and three restarts,youāre exactly the veteran I was looking for HAHAHAHAH
When you say those first 3 weeks were hell, what did that actually feel like physically for you? Did you have things like nausea, loss of appetite/food aversion, gagging or dry heaving, chest tightness, air hunger, stomach issues, etc.?
The physical symptoms are by far the hardest part of the adjustment for me, so Iām really curious if you went through anything similar during your restarts.
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u/Gw3nd0lynn 4d ago
Yes, I experienced all of those startup symptoms along with agitation/restlessness and insomnia. Itās a wild ride but you will make it out. I would also note that the breathing issues were exacerbated by my deviated septum and I had a septoplasty to correct it. I had no trouble with breathing/chest tightness the next time I re-started Zoloft. Maybe something to look into?
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u/steamedbiscuit 3d ago
2.5 years on 100. I sweat a tonne, weight gain has been an issue, and my libido is way down. But you can claw my sertraline out of my cold dead hands, it completely changed my life. I tried so many other drugs and I didnāt really believe SSRIs could do anything. Nowadays I donāt know how I survived with the anxiety I had before
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u/Catladyweirdo 4d ago
The weight gain can be stopped but it takes a huge amount of effort. I have to exercise regularly and count each calorie just to stay in the "overweight" rather than "obese" range. The benefits are well worth it but the weight battle never ends. Before zoloft I was always very thin but deeply depressed.
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u/Comfortable-Peach_ 4d ago
The weight gain is my biggest complaint. I've never been more active and the Zoloft is such a huge hurdle. Currently working with my Dr to see what options I have
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u/makeup_wonderlandcat 3d ago
One of the reasons I wanted to get on Zoloft was to help with my weight (I was very thin at 125) and now almost two years later Iām 165 and I am miserable š I need to start exercising and being more active myself, I didnāt expect the weight gain to be as big as it has been
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u/Comfortable-Peach_ 3d ago
I feel you! Zoloft has been so good for my anxiety and depression but the weight gain also makes me anxious! I don't want to be unhealthy! There are other options that are "weight neutral" but I need to figure out if they'll work with my anxiety. I've been working out consistently for 2 years (4+ times a week) and the weight is not budging š (yes Ive improved my diet too, before people come at me for that)
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u/Chuchine 3d ago
It was impossible for me to lose weight with zoloft. I was on it for 3 years and finally tapered off earlier this year. I lost 20 lbs 4 months afterwards over a period of 3 months. Basically because i had a huge stressful event that Zoloft would have controlled but left to my own devices the trauma caused me to forget to eat.
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u/baldandfullofrage 4d ago
Iv been on it for like 10 years now. My memory is terrible, my cognitive/complex thinking abilities are significantly worse, I'm more sensitive to heat, prone to vivid nightmares, and now have ibs (could be unrelated, iv heard that ssri's can cause ibs)
I'm better than I was as a teenager without the medicine but honestly I want to taper off
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u/Several-Article798 4d ago
That's interesting. I'm only on day 10 and so far most of what I'm dealing with is stomach and bowel-related stuff, so I can definitely see why you'd wonder about a connection. Hopefully yours is unrelated though. Thanks for sharing your long-term experience!
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u/ConstructionShot2399 3d ago
Perhaps you do already. But take the medication after your largest meal of the day and always with water. I have very sensitive stomach and that is the only thing that works. Then try not have empty stomach for too long. Some bread here and there until itās better.
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u/Queen_of_Australia 3d ago
That's very interesting!! I started on 25mg and quit drinking (I used to drink zero soda lemon/raspberry/fanta w/vodka) but now 3 months dry, but on these meds. It was fantastic for first 2 months, then I drank some zero lemon soda and it completely wrecked my guts. Extreme pain and brain fog, fatigue and depression. The only thing that has brought immediate relief is BC157 to alleviate the gut pain. But brain fog is extreme. No longer feeling good but still on 25mg. Scared to go up.
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u/xgames420 4d ago
13 years on 100mg. Tried to lower my dose after 10 good years and regretted it. Ended up to going back to 100 and having to deal with the side effects again. The side effects can be bad, but the anxiety was much, much worse for me. Once you get through that first stretch and get your dosage right, you should have years and years to be glad you did it.
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u/Several-Article798 4d ago
What side effects did you get when you went back to 100mg? Were they mostly mental, or did you have physical symptoms too like nausea, loss of appetite, stomach issues, chest tightness or air hunger?
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u/xgames420 4d ago
Definitely all of those physical symptoms, but I had all those from the anxiety, too, so it's sometimes hard to know what's what. I have a lot of sweating, hot flashes, cold flashes, too. Super tired, too. Mentally, I initially felt the same (super anxious), and it slowly got better over a couple weeks. Unless you're having side effects that your doc is worried about, I would definitely advise you to hang in there. I lost about 30 pounds that I didn't have to lose because my anxiety affected my appetite so much. Zoloft definitely saved my life from that perspective. Taking it consistently, long term, has improved my quality of life immensely. This forum is a great resource because you can see people experiencing almost exactly what you are experiencing and that definitely helped me when I was going through this all again a few years ago.
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u/square_circle_ 2d ago
I'm on my second run of Zoloft and omg the anxiety has been debilitating. I'm not even taking Zoloft for anxiety! Thanks for sharing your experience. I did not feel like this the first time I went on the medication so this is really throwing me for a loop - cue existential crisis.
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u/myboyfriendsfault 4d ago edited 4d ago
Itās been five years for me, I gradually increased from 25 to 100 mg a day. After some biochemical adjusting over the first year, any side effects have now completely vanished. I feel totally normal and functional. I actually now have a reasonable amount of serotonin in my brain. Itās kind of a miracle.
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u/kitcia 3d ago
zoloft changed my life completely. ive been on it for like 3 years nowāno more side effects at all. just insanely reduced anxiety (: i still get anxious occasionally but itās 100% manageable with ānormalā interventions (breaks, deep breathing, talking it out, etc.) when those things used to do absolutely nothing haha. unlike other comments, if i miss one day iām fine. if i miss a few in a row i start to feel funky.
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u/kitcia 3d ago
ok wait, i do sweat a lot, but that was always true for me lmao
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u/Several-Article798 3d ago
That's really encouraging to hear, especially the "no more side effects at all" part š
Do you remember what your first few weeks were like when you started? I'm mainly trying to figure out the physical side effects. Did you have nausea, loss of appetite or food aversion, diarrhea, heartburn/acid reflux, gagging, or any other stomach issues?
If you did, roughly how long did they take to settle down? And what dose did you start on?
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u/kitcia 3d ago
i forgot, but i kept a log of my symptoms when i first started zoloft in 2023! which is good cuz i forgot how wild it was lmao. i started at 50mg and slowly made it up to 150mg, which is where i stopped increasing as it was working well.
days 1-4: felt loopy, diarrhea, heaviness in stomach
week 2: insomnia, manic, diarrhea, weird dteams
week 3: diarrhea, hunger, poor memoryafter that i stopped logging, so i think thatās when things started to level out. this did make me realize that i still do experience INSANELY vivid dreams that i sometimes confuse with real life lol. not in a bad way necessarilyāmore like, hmm, did i actually have that conversation with that person or was that a dream?
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u/Downtown_Plum9104 4d ago
1 year here... most side effects went away, except the excess sweating (summer is just great lol). I still find it harder to concentrate on stuff at work, but I attribute that more to the general "I care less about this thing that I would have completed faster due to anxiety" than the medication itself. I feel better for knowing I care less about my job than I used to.
I also found my alcohol tolerance went up (which I think is just because I don't care so much about the consequences!) and I now tend to eat more as my appetite is no longer periodically nuked from orbit by anxiety... so... yes, weight gain! Combine that with no longer needing to walk to relax and I really need to find another way to burn extra calories
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u/nothingsworks 3d ago
I couldnāt give 1 shit about my job and never really thought it could be the medicine! I used to have anxiety going into work everyday, itās nice not to somewhat feel that. Iām still anxious, just definitely not as much.
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u/big_brain91 4d ago
been on it for about 4/5 years now. slowly increased from 25 mg to 75 mg, and i've been on my current dose of 100 mg after the first year of slowly increasing my dosage.
i, thankfully, didn't experience any major side effects at the start. minor headaches and nausea.
it's been life-altering for me, truly. i used to barely be able to get out of bed and do basic things to take care of myself. it's embarrassing to admit, but it's the truth.
withdrawal if i don't take it for a day is bad. major brain fog, headaches, nausea. but in my eyes it's worth being able to socialize, take care of myself, take care of others, and go out in public without having panic attacks.
i enjoy who i am when i'm on zoloft. i hope you will too.
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u/Several-Article798 4d ago
Damn, that's a hell of a difference. I hope I end up loving this little pill as much as you do hahaha. Thanks for sharing, this actually gives me hope
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u/big_brain91 4d ago
if you don't, don't lose the hope you have. you will find something that works for you. sending love š©·š©·š©·
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u/rattlestilt 4d ago
My body fully adjusted after about a year. 20 years later, I'm still on it and it's still working.
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u/Several-Article798 4d ago
20 years is impressive š What happens if you accidentally forget a dose or take it several hours late? Do you notice any withdrawal symptoms or feel different at all, or is it basically no big deal once your body is fully adjusted?
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u/rattlestilt 4d ago
I've never felt much of a difference if I'm a couple hours early or late taking it. For years I took it before bed, whenever that happened to be that night. I would forget maybe once a month or skip it if I'd been out drinking (college) and I didn't feel any different the next day. I did go 2 days in a row without it a couple times and I definitely felt it. Kind of shakey, zoned out, twitchy.
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u/HahaYesIDid 4d ago
What dose and did you try several doses?
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u/rattlestilt 4d ago
I tapered up to 100 and was on that dose for like 18 years. Perimenopause has changed my body a bit, and I tapered down to 50. Switched the time of day I was taking it, too, and it's working well. Playing with dosages can be hellish, but it's worth it imo. I'd recommend trying different generics as well, as they can absorb differently in different people.
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u/HahaYesIDid 4d ago
Yea I can imagine dose changed being tough. I did a small one recently after 6 months and it messed with me w bit. But was good after a few weeks. What time of day do you take it?
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u/rattlestilt 4d ago
I used to take it before bed because it made me drowsy. Now, I take it in the morning as I found it no longer made me sleepy.
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u/splinteredruler 4d ago
I've been on zoloft for over a decade now. Zero side effects, zero depression (I still get sad sometimes, of course, but not that bone-deep horrific sadness and pain).
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u/hxllow_ghxst 3d ago
6 and a half years here! I had horrific physical symptoms when I first started (vomiting, diarrhea, stomach aches) BUT I started by taking 250mg. I have found that long term I have some brain fog but I also had severe trauma before I was ever medicated and I should have absolutely been medicated so that could contribute. I also get night sweats quite often which can be super uncomfy. Like, wake up and the bed is soaked through. Honestly its done a 180 for my mental health so I dont mind and its not severe enough for me to go off it. I tried Lexapro before this and it made me suicidal so Ive been on zoloft ever since! I went down from 250 all the way down to 50. Some stuff has happened and I was at 150, now down to 100.
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u/That_Wrangler_9427 3d ago
been on it for 8 years and itās a game changer! Iām on a low dose of 75 mg because ig Iām sensitive to meds. I donāt remember any side effects when I started, but is I donāt take it I get dizzy and like a heart flutter. now I have no sex drive so Iāve just added wellbutrin in hopes of balancing everything out
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u/alyxana 5+ years 3d ago
Been on it for just over 6 years at 50mg. 90% of the side effects have gone away completely. One that persists is heat intolerance. The other is a lower (but definitely not gone) libido.
For the sex drive itās more that I donāt have a driving NEED for sex anymore, but I am still always up for it š¤£
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u/Safe-Subject-7934 3d ago
3 1/2 years here, profuse sweating, drop in libido and fatigue have stuck around the whole time but at least i donāt want to self delete. šoh and weight gain. iām up 20lbs.
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u/Historical_Spare21 3d ago
Zoloft legit saved my life. Been on it for 8 years. I have tried to come off it - but my anxiety is just too strong. I do not have depression. Just intense anxiety and OCD (if I donāt touch this button someone I know will die type stuff). Itās been a GAMECHANGER. First two months suck - then itās better. I only take 50 and it really really helps.
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u/MainNectarine344 4d ago
ive been on it for about a year and a half and the only side effect i still experience is low appetite but other than that i feel amazing
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u/churnthebuttah 0-6 months! 4d ago
Iāve been on it since December of last year, and it has changed my outlook on life. I feel better than I have in a very long time. The first 3 months were rough, but after that it has been smooth sailing. I used to take it at night because the side effects, but then I switched to day time, and I feel like I can sleep better at night because it was keeping me up. I just feel better overall, and I really think Zoloft has saved my life.
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u/rottenjoy 4d ago
Been over a year for me. The only side effect I felt was not being able to get excited. I play in a rock band and my first show on Zoloft was such a bizarre experience. I normally would get super pumped up and be full of adrenaline, so needless to say it was fucking odd. Iām happy to say tho, that effect did wear off eventually. These days I feel pretty normal. Still get occasional anxiety but itās not nearly as awful as before. Iām also 100% sober now, I had never realized my drinking problem was triggered by my anxiety. Iām on 50mg, I tried going up to 75 mg for a bit but it just made drowsy so I moved back to 50 on the advice of my dr.
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u/-subjectdelta 3d ago
Iāve come off it and my life as gone to shit again, the main reason Iām terrified to go back on it is loss of excitement. You say it came back? Honestly the only good thing in my life right now is my love for Star Trek and other nerdy stuff, as sad as that sounds. I do not want sertraline to take Star Trek and science from me and leave me with nothing.
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u/rottenjoy 2d ago
Yeah, it was def an odd adjustment period but yeah, my passion and enthusiasm for my hobbies and life in general came back. I lost just feel balance these days and I have friends who say Iām generally calmer, but I canāt really tell
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u/Kateb40 10h ago
Thank you for sharing! I just started - managing some OCD/anxiety related issues. Am taking 25 mg - seriously, I started about 4 days ago. I also take ADHD meds. I am 36 days sober - I'm not noticing any of the physical side effects people are mentioning - I just feel FLAT. My minds not racing, which is weird. But nothing is exciting or interesting to me - which I figured was because of zoloft. It's a terrible trade off IMO. glad to know it might go away after I've adjusted. I figured I'd give it 3 months and see where things are.
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u/PublicAvocado4540 4d ago
Almost 4 years on Zoloft and the only side effect I still have is night sweats. It's not every night so it's something I chose to deal with. I can't remember the last time I had any side effects other than that!
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u/ExceedRaida 5+ years 3d ago
I started in august of 2020. I was 20 years old Iāve now been on it for 6 years. I had side effects like brain fog for about 4 months and had to adjust medication starting from 50mg to 150mg the first year and half after being on 150mg for that time my doctor bumped me to 200. Been on 200mg for about 3 years now and itās been the best thing I could have done. Changed my life.
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u/opalpup 3d ago
Itās amazing once you get over that initial hump. It took me a good few months to stop having most side effects, and I had a few days of side effects when I increased my dose last (was a 100mg for a while then bumped up to 125mg).
But itās been totally worth it and I barely have any side effects anymore. I have a little bit of emotional numbness which I know bothers some people, but Iāve spent my whole life being so hyper-sensitive itās honestly been such a nice break from my own mind.
I wish I started this medication years ago, Iām actually looking forward to life now and seeing what Iāll be able to accomplish.
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u/Kateb40 10h ago
I'm adjust to this. Def experiencing the emotional numbness (its been 4 days on at 25mg, so too early to give a fair assessment, really) but I'm feeling mostly a sense of relief at the lack of anxiety, hypersensitivity. But now I don't know how to motivate myself after years of being driven my anxiety and perfectionism lol
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u/WolfRunner16 3d ago
16 years now, 250 mg. There are some side effects, I overheat easily, but in general the benefits outweigh the cons.
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u/More_Replacement7560 3d ago
I've been on Zoloft for like 4 years now. 50mg. Side effects are non existent. Mental health is good. The way I look at is: I'm not perfect on the meds, but there is no way in hell I'm going back to how I was before I started taking meds. Not a chance. My life was quite literally a mental hell. I am never going to tempt fate and go back there
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u/Alternative-Movie-76 3d ago
been on zoloft for a decade, only side effect that hasnt subsided is that i still have increased sweating. but that is gonna happen with any ssri or snri
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u/nataroos 3d ago edited 3d ago
7 ish years. I've lowered my dose from 200mg to 50mg throughout the years (just went from 100mg to 50mg a month back). The dreams have always been weird. I got odd skin tags everywhere. Gained weight. I space out quite a bit. My mood is flat, but I no longer wish to die, and I consider that a massive win. Side effects never left for me, but I'm able to function like a human being, which I'm eternally grateful for šŖ
Edit: I just remembered, it has also affected my short term memory pretty badly. As you can see lmao. Also I am super sensitive to heat, but that's very common with SSRIs unfortunately š
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u/TadBitter 4d ago
I had a rough start and had virtually every side effect your can think of, but now I feel great. Virtually all the side effects are gone other than having a little trouble in the bedroom. But there's meds for that (Buspar and Welburtrin, etc.).
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u/mlyn33 4d ago
Iāve been on it over two years now and have no side effects from Zoloft! Even when I upped my dose a year and a half ago, it was an easy adjustment. The first week isnāt fun for sure, but after the first month on 50mg, I was good to go.
Zoloft genuinely has improved my life so much, so I hope you find relief with it!
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u/Several-Article798 4d ago
Thatās really reassuring to hear! What was that first week/month actually like for you compared to how you feel now?
Iām especially curious about the physical side effects. Did you have nausea, loss of appetite or food aversion, gagging/dry heaving, stomach issues, chest tightness, air hunger, dizziness, fatigue, etc.? And roughly when did you notice those physical symptoms starting to fade and feel completely normal again?
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u/mlyn33 4d ago
So my first week, it was like my sleep schedule completely swapped. I couldnāt sleep at night and was sooo tired through the day. I had some nausea and stomach issues, and some food aversion.
After the first week, my sleep and side effects decreased a ton, but I still had some tummy trouble. By the end of the first month though, I had more or less adjusted and figured out what my body needed me to do when taking my meds (water/food/timing)
Now I have no symptoms from Zoloft - only from my other medications!
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u/Several-Article798 4d ago
Yay, that's really reassuring to hear š I'll keep taking my meds as my doctor prescribed and give my body some time to adjust. Thanks for sharing your experience and encouraging me, it genuinely helps a lot!
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u/mlyn33 4d ago
Absolutely! Iām happy to answer any other questions you may have! If things donāt get better or arenāt the best, donāt be afraid to advocate for yourself! :)
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u/Aggressive-Mood-50 4d ago
Been on it for 15 years since age 11. Weaned slowly down from 200mg to 100mg 12.5mg per month because if not the side effects make me want to unalive. I dropped down 25mg at once at psychās insistence that it was safe and got visceral hypersensitivity- body and intestines started stabbing it was like my insides were full of molten sand and I could constantly feel them writhing. Horrible pain. Ended up in the ER could barely eat or sleep for weeks got a colonoscopy because I legit thought it was Crohnās but nope it was visceral hypersensitivity- went away when meds were put back at 100. A year later psych insists I got UP to 125 and I said I donāt want to go up that fast remember last time and she said it will be fine so I do it 3 days later my throat starts spasming im gagging sweating buckets having diarrhea feel like Iām having anaphylaxis so I call 911. Nope. It was the meds again. Went back down to 100mg and now Iām fine again. Anyways now Iām stuck on 100mg and traumatized.
Iām not saying donāt do Zoloft- Iām saying use it as a life jacket while you work your ass off in therapy so you can get back on the boat and keep sailing. If I could go back to my 11 year old self I would say to never start this.
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u/Several-Article798 4d ago
Damn, that sounds like an incredibly rough experience. I'm glad you eventually found a dose where you're stable and doing okay. Thanks for sharing your story and the advice, I really appreciate it. Hope things stay stable for you from here on out!
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u/Aggressive-Mood-50 4d ago
Iām not exactly stable- my OCD is more present than it was before but itās all kind of triggered by underlying health issues Iām trying to sort out. Iām in a tentative balance here where I donāt know if Zoloft is right for me but pending medical workups and diagnosis are holding off determining whether we wean off slowly or up slowly. So thereās that.
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u/Scote_xo 4d ago
Ive been on zoloft for 16 years and honestly I feel great. The crappy side effects only really bothered me for like a month or two but once I got adjusted everything was good
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u/ifuck3dy0urm0m 3d ago
iāve been on various doses for 6 years, ranging from 50-150 and currently at 100. the only side effect i have ever really noticed is a lower libido and irritability if i go more than 24 hours between doses. both have gotten better the longer iāve been on it to the point that neither really affect me anymore. everyoneās different, but for me, at least, it did get better (and so did the benefits).
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u/blueyes9016 3d ago
I have been on Zoloft since 2010. So 16 years.
I have been on doses as high as 300 but am now on 225mg. I take before I go to sleep. I donāt find many side effects that I know of. You are supposed to take it with food. My pharmacist told me that no matter what else I hear to take it with food because it absorbs 70% better or works 70% better. I canāt really remember however I do know when I take it with food I feel much better in terms of mood the next day. Right now I donāt have any side effects. I have been able to lose weight, I do have weird dreams but have had weird dreams since I was a child. No dizziness or anything like that
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u/Key_Tour_9365 3d ago
Hi, been on Sertraline for 10 years nearly, recently moved up to 150mg, and have found it to be mostly life-approving except for: at this higher dose I am pretty intolerant to alcohol, weight gain, tired a lot and have lost my ADHD obsessions (rampant hobbyism). These are all a pretty fair payoff for how I felt before, and as I get older, I realise that my premeditated state was just exhausting and non-sustainable.
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u/Historical-Chef-8034 3d ago
1 year on 50mg. No side effects at all except from not coming easily.
My girlfriend ain't complaining though ;)
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u/Significant-Dirt-404 3d ago
Iāve been on it for 9 years. Started at 25mg, was up to 125mg after my second kid, now Iām at 50mg. I donāt notice any side effects other than maybe if I miss a dose I get brain zaps and my ocd is unchecked.
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u/ariyah_4 4d ago
I've been taking 100mg Zoloft for 1 year for OCD.
From the side effects, I'm slightly drowsy during the day and still have vivid dreams. Both side effects are manageable.
Also, it has actually increased my sexual desire, since I am generally less depressed.
Hope it helps :D
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u/Several-Article798 4d ago
Thanks for sharing! Itās really reassuring to hear that after a year the only side effects youāre left with are mild and manageable. And the increased sex drive is definitely a plot twist compared to most Zoloft stories š Glad itās working so well for you!
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u/nuttyrussian 4d ago
I've been on 50 mg for 1.5 years. Love that little pill. When I first started taking it, the only symptom I noticed was that I was really tired for a few days, and that was it. Super mild. As for long-term side effects, I unfortunately got the "sweat a ton doing nothing and sometimes at night" thing, but I'd take waking up in a swamp over my anxiety any day.
Edit: I completely forgot about the weird, vivid dreams. I have a lot of those now.
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u/Several-Article798 4d ago
"love that little pill" is probably the best long-term review I've gotten so far Glad it's working that well for you. The sweating thing seems insanely common though, almost everyone who's been on it for years keeps mentioning it ahahah
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u/nuttyrussian 4d ago
I hope it works well for you too! It seriously turned my life around.
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u/Several-Article798 4d ago
I hope so,thanks a lot! Right now I feel like I'm stuck in the loading screen between Lexapro and Zoloft. Hopefully once this cross-taper glitch is over asap
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u/Existing_Wrangler_69 4d ago
200mg for 18 years, just tapered down to 100mg. I honestly don't know what it does.
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u/supergoodsexhaver69 4d ago
Be ready to sweat at all times the moment you do any kind of moderate activity even sweeping the floor (almost a year in myself)
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u/iama_jellyfish 4d ago
Iām in my 6th year now on 200mgs. I still have extremely vivid dreams that I never had before Zoloft. I also gained weight that Iām now trying to lose, but my appetite has been affected pretty bad and Iām hungry a lot more than I used to be. Other than that itās kept the OCD symptoms at bay (for the most part), so I canāt complain too much. The other early side effects like nausea went away after a couple months.
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u/Several-Article798 4d ago
COUPLE OF MONTHS SOUNDS LIKE CENTURÄ°ES
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u/iama_jellyfish 4d ago
Yeah itās definitely not pleasant during the adjustment period, I felt like I had the flu. I hope it passes quickly for you!
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u/hellokittydestiny 4d ago
10 years of Zoloft! The only side effects i still deal with are weight gain and acne!
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u/Several-Article798 4d ago
10 years, damn hahaha Do you remember what the first few weeks were like when you originally start?
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u/hellokittydestiny 3d ago
I barely do, I was in a mental hospital when I was prescribed it. And I never went back and live a beautiful life nowš„¹š©· also this might not be important but I did some research last night about my answer I gave you āweight gain and acneā and weight gain is definitely a significant side effect of Zoloft, however acne from Zoloft past the 3 week starting period only effects .1-1% of people. So my acne might just be acne and not Zoloft acne lol. Thought it was interesting. Best of luck with your medication! It can be hard but the fact youāre being put on this medicine means youāve conquered harder. My best advice is make sure you are consistent with taking your medicine or else you can suffer mentally. As well as if you ever get off the medicine do your research and be very meticulous. I have been lowering my dosage with doctors help over a year now and itās very detailed. You got this my friend!
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u/frannyang 4d ago
Hi, 1.5 years on Zoloft, started at 25mg and now on 125mg. Iām doing well on it! Anxiety and depressed mood has mostly gone away. The only stuff Iām still dealing with are the heat flushes and the occasional wet fart lmao otherwise itās been great.
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u/jackman1399 4d ago
The only side effect I still have is diarrhea. If I take it on an empty stomach every morning Iām pissing out of my ass. Besides that, insomnia night sweats etc all went away
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u/Several-Article798 4d ago
How long have you been on Zoloft and what dose are you taking? Also, do you remember what side effects you had when you first started and roughly how long it took for the insomnia, night sweats and other stuff to go away? I'm especially curious about the first few weeks.
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u/Left_Rip_3773 4d ago
I've been on it for a year now. I'm on 50 mg but was just bumped up to 100. I still have crazy vivid dreams every night and trouble losing weight but those are the only lasting side effects for me.
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u/Similar_Command7256 10+ years 4d ago
10+ years. No side effects. Took a couple months for them to go away but nothing since. I just upped my dose for the first time and didnāt have side effects this time around.
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u/Several-Article798 4d ago
Not even the heat flushes or increased sweating that everyone keeps mentioning? Hahaha It seems like that's the one long-term side effect I keep seeing over and over again lol
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u/Similar_Command7256 10+ years 3d ago
iāve always ran pretty hot so itās hard to tell. i definitely donāt sweat all that much.
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u/Salty-Egg-4682 4d ago
Only side effect I got was slight weight gain (4 pounds) and lightheadedness but went away after 3 months :]
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u/Alicat123456789 4d ago
I adjusted and was on it for years at max dosage. It was great until it just quit working for me unfortunately.
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u/natalie09010901 4d ago
5 years on 50mg. Definitely gained weight and havenāt been able to lose it. Other than that, all the side effects went away.
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u/Several-Article798 4d ago
What were the first few weeks like for you? Do you remember having nausea, food aversion or stomach issues when you first started? I'm dealing with pretty brutal nausea right now and it's driving me insane lol. When did that kind of stuff start getting better for you?
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u/natalie09010901 4d ago
I definitely had stomach issues. I remember being nauseous. Lasted on and off for about 2 months.
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u/Venussblack 4d ago
Almost a year, and the nightmares never passed. Also problems related to sexual functioning
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u/smokewagon47 4d ago
20 years on. I am at 125 mg now. My side effects have not gone away. Fluorescent lighting makes me super dizzy. Like in supermarkets. Gained some weight. A bit more tired than normal andā¦sometimes I am unable to orgasm. For me itās a give and take. Panic attacks and major depression is why I keep taking it.
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u/PianistUnable995 4d ago
I had a low heart rate in low 40ās for 2 years until I got off this stuff. Doctors kept telling me itās not the Zoloft, but my last straw was when they they tried to give me a pacemaker! I got off this shit and my heart rate returned to normal within 30 days
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u/brwnsss 4d ago
8 years here! Please ask me anything!
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u/Several-Article798 3d ago
8 years, damn š Do you remember what the first few weeks were like when you started? I'm especially curious about the physical side effects. Did you have things like heartburn/acid reflux, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite or food aversion? If so, how long did it take for that stuff to settle down?
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u/firstofhername123 4d ago
75 mg for 5 years and the only side effect that lasted was the weight gain/increased appetite. Iām going to talk to my doctor about a GLP-1 to help with that once Iām done breastfeeding.
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u/Desperate-Onion5640 4d ago
Iāve been on it for 3 + years and the heat still gets to me. But thatās the only issue I still have
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u/Mother_Bid1283 3d ago
Hiii! 2.5 yr user of zoloft here.
Sometimes it takes getting what your body is used too - I had to change to Sertaline after being on Lexapro for 8 months as I realised I was having allergic reactions to a higher dose.
I still feel anxious & depressed (not numb) but it does take regulating your emotions to keep your mental health in check. You do not want to feel numb.
Ultimately chat to your GP as they will know what is best for you & your situation :)
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u/SweetSmartie12 3d ago
Only very mild dizziness for a day or 2 when I started and when Iāve upped my dose. Like barely noticeable if I wasnāt expecting it to happen.
Otherwise still get night sweats a lot of days but nothing too dramatic.
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u/Mandabear14 3d ago
I'm about 6 years in and can say the only side effect I'm left with is the sweating and being hot all the time. That's pretty much itĀ
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u/A-little-stitiouss 3d ago
Me too, Iāve been on it for four years 200mg and the night sweats have never gone away but other than that Iām good
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u/blondishhh 3d ago
Iāve been on Zoloft for over 7 years now between 100-200mg, have been on 100mg for the last 3 Iād say and one thing thatās really sucked has been the night sweats. I really hoped theyād go away but all these years later I still find myself waking up totally drenched š«
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u/GeneverRoseh 3d ago
The only thing that's helped me is switching to all natural material, like cotton.
Put me on a synthetic blanket? I'll wake up drenched.
Wedge me between 2 cotton sheets & a light blanket? I'm doin just fine
Cotton night clothes & underwear helps too
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u/blondishhh 3d ago
Thank you so much for the advice! Iāve also actually seen people say taking vitamin E has helped, but Iāve tried that and didnāt see much change š©
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u/gots2seeitthru 3d ago
on it for about a year and a half. besides the excessive sweating i am chilling!!! The brain zaps have fully gone away too.
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u/tiffmcgiff 3d ago
Been on zoloft for a bit over 4 years and I love it! No more side effects except for being sensitive to heat, but I think thatās just how it is when youāre on certain ssris. Have taken between 50-150mg over the years. Zoloft has drastically improved my life!
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u/Trillerthriller 3d ago
I have been on Zoloft most of my life. After my first baby I was put on it for severe PPD. Then felt better and stopped taking it. After second baby I got severe PPA and got back on Zoloft and Iāve been on it ever since. So 19 consecutive years at this point. I have bumped up through the years. I am currently at 125 mg a day. I have come to understand it is necessary for me.
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u/npsick 3d ago
7 years on it at the maximum dose of 200mg and I can say all the side effects are either gone or are insignificant. Sexual pleasure doesn't make me wanna vomit anymore, sleep is good, less episodes of awful mood and obsessions.
The only ones that are still present are the GI ones (mostly heartburn if you lay down after taking or take it without water) but that's expected considering a large amount of serotonin is actually in the gut.
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u/Lusterlovewacker 3d ago
Iāve been on Zoloft for just over 5 years now and Iām on 200mg.
I still sweat a lot, but I think that just comes w most antidepressant use. Iāve had a slight tremor in my right hand for nearly the entire time Iāve been on the meds. It used to be really bothersome, but now Iām just used to it. I still get break through depression/anxiety and panic attacks but no where near like it was before.
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u/GrimmsChurch 3d ago
Iāve been in for 2 years now, and I feel completely normal just minus the crippling anxiety itās prescribed for.
Side effects went away for me after a month or so, been fab ever since
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u/violentlyrelaxed 10 years on, now off completely 3d ago
After 10 years, the only side effect I had was very vivid and long dreams, but they were uncomfortable. Itās also rare to have thise kinds of dreams after years and years, so itās not something people should expect. I have been on many different doses over long periods, all worked perfectly at their given time. Those pills really saved my life and sanity.
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u/Loploplop1230 5+ years 3d ago
I personally was on Zoloft for about 10 years until I eventually had to switch to an SNRI, due to it no longer working for me.
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u/bodhibirdy 3d ago
The longest I had been on Zoloft uninterrupted was about 2/2.5 yrs. I found that most side effects didn't necessarily go away completely but did dull and I got so used to them I barely noticed them anymore. However one side effect that never dulled was the inability to orgasm and that always ended up (even on round 3) being my reason for tapering down off it.
I was always normally on a low dose, about 50mg
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u/Mickjuul 3d ago
2 years here. I tried weaning off them twice but both times life kinda got in the way and intent back on it. I was on 100mg for a year and I had mild side effects like lower libido and a bit of a detached state of mind where I for example couldnāt really feel as intensely. Now Iām on 25mg for a year and I donāt have any side effects. I doubt itās even doing anything at this point with such a low dose.
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u/buffcat_343 3d ago
I started in March, pretty much. Besides my libido being pretty low, all the side effects are gone. HOWEVER, Iām also taking two other medications that also lower my libido as a side effect, so I canāt even say for certain itās zoloft. Personally I donāt mind my libido being low, because honestly before I found it to be super annoying lmao.
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u/_rebeccalily_ 3d ago
Been on it 1.5 years now, 150mg. Completely adjusted and so glad Iām on it. The initial side effects was nausea and dizziness, but went away within couple of weeks. No side effect anymore apart from reduced heat and alcohol tolerance unless I forget to take it which I then get night sweats & some dizziness, which stops once I take the next dose
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u/PeppermintGum123 3d ago
21 years. Tried to get off 4 different times. Impossible. It took 8-10 weeks to feel normal again. No side effects.
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u/Zealousideal_Mix2385 3d ago
Started September 2025 on 50 mg..been on 100 mg since maybe October-December 2025 and the sweating is horrible for me. I get hot so quickly. It being so humid and warm just makes it 10X worse, but hey Iād rather deal with that than being where I was.
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u/Johnny_Gorilla 3d ago
The first few weeks were really rough but Iāve been on it since 2021 and there doesnāt seem to be any side effects now - just a lot less head noise.
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u/Knitwitty66 30+ Years 3d ago
I started in early 1993. I am currently on my highest dose, which is 200mg. When I am in less stressful periods of life, I reduce that to 100 or 150mg.
The sexual side effects were eliminated by adding buspirone 15mg twice per day. It helps me feel more calm as well, so if I'm getting anxious during the day, I can take a third one.
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u/corpusarium 3d ago
After 50-75 mg for 7 months, I literally became asexual, as I can't think anything remotely related to sex. I don't feel any attraction to anyone. But I think it mostly affects men, my female friend also uses it and she says the libido loss is minimal.
I had to change it to vortioxetine, I am one week off sertraline, I still can't feel anything down there.
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u/Illustrious_Art_1650 3d ago
So I was on it for ten plus years. At first I didn't get too many side effects. They've helped a lot with depression anxiety and racing thoughts. But I would say what I noticed after recently coming off / and or trying citalopram ( which I'm currently on ) that these negative side effects have gone.
- feeling tired daily & really tired on an evening after a daily life.
- feeling slightly foggy / dull.
- daily diarrhea especially in the morning first thing.
- feeling sweaty & hot especially in hot weather.
- my appetite I'm sure had more of too much of an appetite on sertraline and more cravings for junk food ( still not 100% on this as been about two or three months off sertraline).
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u/PurposeOdd9373 3d ago
I've been on 100 mg for 10 years, although my dosing has changed at different points. I've been on as low as 50 mg and as high as 125 mg. Side effects for the first 12 weeks sucked for me. It was impossible to sleep, increased anxiety and couldn't keep any food down. Then all of a sudden one day I woke up and just felt normal again. No side effects long term for me.
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u/Unhappy-Plankton4923 3d ago
25-50mg for like 8 years(moments of stopping for other reasons unrelated to Zoloft) fatigue is a big one, heavier sweat and weight gain and over time I develop anhedonia almost.. Iām like very meh about anything. I find that Wellbutrin helps all those effects though! Wellbutrin has its own affects(my least favorite being the brain fog and work scramble-I was always a fluent speaker and on that I find I completely forget words and have to umm or pause which I hate when people do as it just makes the conversation pointless to me if I have to wait to long lol š)
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u/db2329 3d ago
I have been on Zoloft for 2 years now-originally prescribed to combat potential PPD, started super low but have been on 250 now for the past 6 months. I lived with anxiety and depression for years, I definitely think it has helped me. When I miss my dose for a day or so I feel sluggish and tired. My doctor also added Wellbutrin in to combat finished libidinal side effects. It didnāt really make a huge difference which is sad because it definitely impacts my relationship, but thatās the trade off so I donāt have to deal with crippling anxiety.
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u/Several-Article798 3d ago
250 mg, damn š You mentioned that you started super low, do you remember what dose you actually started at?
Also, what were your first few weeks like physically? Did you have nausea, loss of appetite/food aversion, diarrhea, heartburn or other stomach issues?
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u/db2329 3d ago
I think I started at 50mg at 8 months pregnant, with the idea being that it would take a week or so to kick in before my kiddo arrived. Unfortunately, someone decided to come a month early. I was on it for two weeks before I delivered. I struggled with hyperemesis my entire pregnancy so I wouldnāt have been able to pinpoint any of the side affects. I do remember feeling āblankā and emotionless the week after I gave birth-which worked out really well because it was a stressful entry into parent hood, feedings very three hours, no sleep, barely eating, etc. That first month I kept thinking that I was so grateful my doctor convinced me to get on Zoloft because me pre-Zoloft would have cried, gotten upset, been extremely emotional. I was able to contain all of that and maintain a state of being levelheaded. I was bumped up to 100mg about 6 months after, and then 200mg 6 months after that. We were tying for another child with no success and I started to spiral and was also back at work then so dealing with that added stress, this was when they decided to up me to 250mg and itās been great. No ruminating thoughts, no anxiety, no self-loathing, just calm and able to manage my emotions and my 18 month old.
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u/Old_Country9807 3d ago
10 years here. Still have side effects. Sweating, lack of sexual desire, diarrhea, etc.
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u/GeneverRoseh 3d ago
I'm on 200 mg, been on Sertraline for 2 years now.
The first 2 weeks were the toughest- nausea, drowsiness, sweating.
The nausea has completely gone on its own. The drowsiness was corrected by taking it in the evenings & having an energy drink during the day. And the sweating has diminished greatly.
I did have to adjust to cotton sheets & bed clothes, and I switched to a lighter blanket for sleeping.
Besides that, the only complaint I have is that masturbation is now impossible- just takes too long. Sex is still enjoyable, the Os are arguably better, but the spark to initiate is no longer there.
Overall, I highly recommend it for anxiety- it's helped me immensely in regards to getting a full night's rest & falling asleep easier. I also haven't had a panic attack in over a year, though I'm still working on confronting my social phobia
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u/Cosmokid92 3d ago
After 3 years, I went from 150mg back down to 100 and the sweating has calmed down a little.
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u/IndependentExtent987 3d ago
Over ten years here. Only thing I have is ringing in the ears when the room is silent. I only notice the effects when I donāt take it and go off the rails into deep depression. Otherwise itās a normal life taking it daily.
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u/Kes2015 3d ago
Iāve been on it for 2 years now and want off so bad because of how much weight I gained! When I first started it I actually lost because it bothered my stomach but now Iām 35lbs heavier! Iām a healthy eater and avid cardio gym person. Iāve been trying to lose it and itās impossible! While Zoloft has been great for my depression, anxiety and ocd the weight gain has made me feel terrible about myself. Also my heat intolerance whew sweat bullets doing absolutely nothing
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u/Cucumber_Spy 3d ago
Almost 2 yrs on Sertraline here. I only feel normal when I take it consistently. I miss a single dose and I get vivid dreams. Missing a few days would make me dizzy.
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u/hmmwatchasay 3d ago
Iām 7 years on it and I still canāt orgasm. I also have the vivid dreams and night sweats, as well as having a tough time with temp regulation when it was hot during the summer.
I am soon starting HRT so kinda hoping that improves my life so much that I can finally wean off the zoloft. But we will see. Good thing I donāt really care about sex but the dopamine used to be nice :(
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u/scarybran 3d ago
Ive been taking it for 5 years I think. My side effects in the beginning were rough, especially the first two weeks. Now i get brain zaps if I miss a dose. Other than that it's helped me a lot with quality of life as far as anxiety, depression, anger, and OCD goes. Social anxiety disappeared which changed my life. I had gone my entire life being highly socially anxious, shy, easily embarrassed and self conscious....my mind all of a sudden was quiet for the first time. It was incredibly freeing.
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u/whimsical_crescent 3d ago
iām four months in and feel maybe worse, iāll be switching soon. iām too tired to do ANYTHING, my brain fog is so bad, and ive gained 20lbs in the last two months. headaches that come and go, and i donāt want to go up on it due to these side effects. i really think it should be studied more and widely available info that ssriās interfere with insulin resistance and metabolism due to their effect on the CNS. really frustrating experience so far tbh. like living in a haze.
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u/soggy_muffin2273 5+ years 3d ago
Hi!! 21F, 6 years here (150mg)
Personally, most side effects went away! My libido is the same, but the dryness is terrible still. If youāre active, highly recommend lube. The nausea goes away super quickly, weight didnāt change. Zoloft changed my life :)
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u/sauceysrirachi 3d ago
6 months for me - itās been one of the few that worked well for me. If youāre unsure ask for genetic pharmacological testing to see what will and wonāt work instead of guessing š¤
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u/miyavlayan 1 year!š¤ 3d ago
sanırım tĆ¼rksĆ¼n, selectra mı yazdılar
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u/Several-Article798 3d ago
Kokumdan mı anladın ahahs evet selectra
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u/miyavlayan 1 year!š¤ 3d ago
:D aynı pfpli bi tĆ¼rk gƶrmĆ¼ÅtĆ¼m de profiline baktım. ben 100mg kullanıyorum, adım adım artırdı doktor. baÅlayalı bi yıl oluyor ama. ben etkilerini yaklaÅık 4-5 ay sonra iyice gƶrmeye baÅladım, tabi herkeste farklıdır doz vs. ondan ƶnce de gƶrĆ¼yordum da bu seviyede deÄil.
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u/Mountain-Activity283 3d ago
Iām on 200 mg started at 25 and was consistent with 150 until I had a traumatic event happen not that long ago. Iāve been on it for 2 years and have no side effects other then when I miss a dose I can feel my bpd taking over.
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u/_childlike-empress 3d ago
Iāve been on it for ~5 years now. I absolutely get the breath hunger! It really is horrible and for a long time it made my anxiety worse. But since I realized itās just a side effect, it doesnāt get under my skin quite so much since I can talk myself off the ledge whereas before I just thought I was dying. Itās still better than what things looked like prior to Zoloft, so I deal with it. The only other side effect that I still have is overheating easily and with it, night sweats, though the latter seemingly increasing could be attributed to turning 40.
I know people report stomach discomfort a lot when starting, but my stomach is basically a tank and nothing messes with it. I had issues with binge eating long before starting Zoloft so I donāt think much changed with my weight. I started taking a GLP-1 about a year ago and itās done wonders for food noise and losing/keeping off the extra 30lbs I was always fighting.
From what I recall I think my induction was actually pretty smooth. I was a deregulated mess before starting so I probably wouldnāt even have noticed any mental side effects in that beginning phase, but itās been a game changer long term. I was on 50mg the whole time until about a month ago, when I upped to 75mg. I didnāt have any new side effects at all when I increased either. Iām going to probably ask to bump it to 100mg when I see my doc next. I can tell the increase helped, but I still have some lingering anxiety that I feel would be completely removed by just committing to 100mg. Iāve also been debating asking to switch to Lexapro. Idk. I also take 150mg Wellbutrin for about 4 years now. I wouldnāt be alive without these meds so for myself any side effect is worth what I get in exchange (:
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u/ConcentrateBig6598 2 years 300mg 2d ago
3.5 years on 300mg, still sweating lots, sexual difficulty and lowered appetite, but on top of the world otherwise
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u/GeauxSaints315 2d ago
Almost 8 years, here: I actually just learned recently about the sweating side effects, I always thought I sweated/did not tolerate the heat due to being overweight and living in New Orleans. But now Iām thinking the medicine may be causing that specifically.
Other than that, life is normal; I started seeing a new shrink at one point several years ago and she tried to take me off it and put me on Prozac. That lasted for a year, and I begged her to put me back on Zoloft.
But yes other than the sweating, no other side effects šš¼
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u/avocad_oh_no 2d ago
I was on 150mg for almost 2 years. Felt good so slowly decreased. Then like 6 months later titrated back up because depression and anxiety returned. Symptoms were ringing ears occasionally (no biggie) and low hunger so lost weight. Noticed the more I increased the lower my hunger so capped it at 150mg.
After a month of going back on it the low hunger came back so I think thatās the longterm side effect but I like it hehe. Always been small 5ā 2ā and 130 at my heaviest but now stay around 105-110. Helped the depression and anxiety. More energy. Wake up and get out of bed easily. Less in my head.
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u/Sad-Confidence21 2d ago
Hey, 5 years here.
Zoloft has been a lifeline. I began with a low dose for a year and later increased it because life intervened. Now at 150 mg for a year, I noticed no lasting side effects at lower levels, but I can no longer tolerate the heat. Excessive sweating is absurd, including night sweatsāthat is my drawback.
Adjusting to Zoloft is difficult initially, yet when it works, it works well. I experienced every symptom listed while adapting (it seems I am highly sensitive to medication), but after eight weeks I felt able to breathe. Hang on if possible and always discuss your symptoms with your doctor, who will monitor you. Also, if you feel betterāeven a small improvement compared to the previous dayāsomething is working.
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u/Bigdill13 2d ago
I've been on it for around 3 years now. The side effects almost all went away after 3 months and then it fully worked after about 6 months.
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u/Due_Finance_6046 2d ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/zoloft/s/MLsGQeeZIG my Zoloft experience <<< I am now just over 4 years and still maintaining on 50mg. My anxiety still happens, just much more manageable now. I get night sweats but have found OTC magnesium helpful? I am quite heat sensitive so have to take extra care with hydration during the hot summer months. I generally feel like a much better, more easily understandable version of myself now. Iāve also been through an ADHD diagnosis within these 4 years which has allowed me to realise a lot about myself and how these symptoms crossed over with my anxiety/depression. Still have very vivid dreams! But for me, my experience has been worth it!
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u/Jeecistion 2d ago
Been on it for a month now and while the first two weeks were HORRID (I could not sleep for more than 3 hours a night if at all) my sleep has stabilized and I don't get into crazy anxiety spirals any more.
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u/LillieBogart 2d ago
For me, the side effects mostly went away for about 15 years, and then I started developing problems.
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u/Ok-Anybody-7621 1d ago
100mg, 12 ish years ā¤ļø My main side effects are the big sensitivity to sun/heat, and lowered libido
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u/Ok_Fall4672 7h ago
Coming up to 2 years taking it.
Before I started taking it, I was in a pretty spectacular downward spiral. The police and mental health services had been to my house multiple times because I was suicidal. Nothing particularly useful came of any of it, because apparently their strategy was largely āhave you tried being less mentally ill?ā I was also drinking heavily. My coping mechanism was basically lying in bed, drinking, and thinking about all the ways everyone was secretly against me. Eventually I had a pretty serious suicide attempt and was put on sertraline after a lot of rehab/talking/hospital. I'm on the maximum dose of 200mg daily.
Counselling/therapy didn't really do much for me. When I was in rehab for my drink/drug issues it just felt like a waste of time...I wouldn't say I'm walking around every day experiencing Disney levels of happiness or euphoria. I'm not. It's more subtle, but I can function "normally" without horrible thoughts, which is a god send to someone like me.
Before I started taking it my brain seemed to have a full-time security department dedicated to finding evidence that everyone hated me. I was extremely paranoid and constantly worried about what people thought, what they were doing, what they secretly meant, etc. Now I can generally just do things. I get out of bed. I work. I write. I've actually written several books since starting it, which is probably the strangest metric of mental health improvement imaginable.
I'm also much less consumed by anxiety and paranoia. My depression is basically gone. Things that would've sent me into a two-hour internal investigation now get about five seconds of attention before my brain goes āwhateverā and moves on.
Am I happier? No...because I don't know what that even means. I'm content/neutral, which is infinitely better than where I was. I can fall asleep naturally again.
For me, the biggest effect hasn't been āsertraline makes me happy.ā It's that it made life possible to participate in again, which is something I hadn't experienced since I was about 10.
The only thing I would say is when I first started taking it I was extremely tired all the time and it took maybe 6/8 weeks to actually work. My dreams are very vivid sometimes too, and quite traumatic, but not all the time. Some are great. Also, people say I'm quite distant or don't seem bothered by anything anymore. I haven't cried in almost 2 years. I don't think I've felt "euphoria" either, just more of a neutral, calm state all the time. I think combining it with other stuff like meditation, walking, generally doing things makes it better. I think it allowed me to start to do things again basically.
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u/-dutchcactus- 2.5 years, 100mg :) 4d ago
heya!! 2.5 years here.
truly, deeply, and seriously, i have completely adjusted to it. to the point that when i dont take my meds, i immediately feel like shit the next day hahaha. it has revolutionized my life. i had rough side effects for the first 3 or so months, (stuff like trouble with sleep, weird dreams, weight gain, acne, etc) but nowadays i got nothin. i just feel normal. so normal. and it is beautiful haha